Mechanical basing machine



Nov. 5, 1935. P. MEYER MECHANICAL BASING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR PETE/ MEYER BY 2 9 @222 ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1935. P. MEYER 2,019,622

MECHANICAL BASING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 87' E f7 MW m k|ll mul INVENTOR P575}? MEYER BY z kt)? "A'ITORN Nov. 5, 1935. P. MEYER MECHANICAL BASING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR PETER NEVER ATTORNEY Patented No 5, 1935 MECHANICAL BASING mourns Peter Meyer, Newark, N. 1., assignor to Westingr house Lamp Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 22, 1932, Serial No. 648,884 6 Claims. (Cl. 176-3) As disclosed in the above mentioned co-pending application, in the manufacture of certain electrical devices such for example as incan descent lamps, it is the practice to provide the lamp with a base so arranged that it may be secured to a bulb neck by a mechanical means as distinguished from bases which are secured to the bulb by a cementitious material.

Various types of mechanical bases have been made heretofore but when making electric incandescent lamps it is essential to provide a base which is not only of relatively low cost from a production standpoint, but which may be quickly and conveniently assembled and secured to a bulb. The mechanical base structure with which the present invention is concerned includes a bulb neck having depressions or recesses around which is disposed a split band or collar having internal raised portion or protuberances arranged to be positioned in the. recesses in the bulb. Around the collar is disposed a metallic threaded shell of cylindrical form and portions of the shell are spun or otherwise depressed so as to conform with depressions in the collar to engage the same and thus hold the threaded shell in place.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective arrangement of cooperating elements for assembling and uniting the component parts of a base to mechanically secure them to a bulb.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism forsupporting a base and bulb in position and for automatically uniting the base to the bulb by a metal deforming or spinning operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism ,forautomatically moving a selfcentering metal'd'eforming tool to position in contact with a metallic surface bridging a depression.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism wherein the component parts of a mechanical base are held in assembled relation with a bulb neck positioned therein for the simultaneous actuation of a plurality of spinning tools for securing the bulb to the bulb neck.

Other objects and advantages will be -more fully understood from the following description together with the accompanying drawings in which: p

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying 5 the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line III-III in Fig. 5

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the various operating elements for se- 10 curing a metallic base to a bulb;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken on line V-V A in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line VIVI in Fig. 5 and 15 Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the end of a bulb neck with the two component parts of a base ready to be applied thereto.

The apparatus shown and described herein. is particularly adapted for securing a mechanical 20 base to a bulb and especially a base such as shown in the above co-pending application.

A base of this character may, as illustrated in Fig. 7 comprise a threaded metallic shell I0 and a split collar II. This base may be applied to 25 a prepared bulb neck l3 which neck is shaped to conform with the shape of the collar II and is provided with a plurality of cavitiesor de-- pressions l4; usually three such cavities are provided. The collar I l is also provided with cavities I5. Collar II is formed of sheet metal and the cavities l5 when pressed therefrom result in protuberances or raised portions IE on the interior surface of the collar. The arrangement of the protuberances is such that when the collar 35 is in position on the bulb neck these raised portions are disposed in and fit the cavities it. When the collar is in position on the bulb neck the metallic shell in is positioned thereover so that apertures I! provided in the shell are disposed over depressions IS in the collar.

As shown in Fig. 7, the bulb neck is provided witha slot or groove l8 in which a lead wire IQ of the lamp is disposed. The other lead wire 2! passes through an aperture 22 in a metallic contact 23 and is subsequently secured to the contact by soldering. The free end of the lead wire I9 is bent outwardly and disposed in a notch 24 and soldered to the metallic shell in the usual manner. v

When the collar l I and shell II! are positioned about the neck. the material surrounding the apertures I1 is deformed by a spinning operation so that portions of the metallic shell are forced inwardly to occupy the depressions i5 and as will 55 be evident, deformed material may be so worked that it will firmly press the protuberances of the collar II into the cavities I4 and it will. also be tures I 1 are provided, if desirable, these apertures may be dispensed with and the imperforate metal spun into the depressions. It has been found, however, that by forming the apertures I1, the material finds room to expand and a more complete or intimate relation is obtained between the surfaces of the deformed material and the concave surfaces of the depressions I8. The deformation of the metallic shell I8 may be performed in any suitable manner as by applying a suitable tool.

In the manufacture of lamps in large volume it is, however, essential to provide a mechanism which will perform the base securing operation in an expeditious and uniform manner. purpose the present invention provides an sparatus comprising a table or platform 38 supported on legs 3 I. On the table is disposed a superstructure 32 comprising a plate 33 mounted on legs 34. The plate 33 is preferably in the form of a disk and is arranged to support a plurality of metal spinning tools 35.

The tools 35 are mounted on the ends 38 of rotatable spindles 31 joumaled in bearings 38 and 38'. Inasmuch as the present invention provides a lamp base in which it is necessary to perform three spinning operations, the present apparatus includes three spinning tools radially disposed with respect to the plate 33, the center of the plate being provided with means for supporting the assembled parts of the base. The spinning tools and the immediate actuating mechanism therefor are of similar construction and a description of one will answer for all.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 5, spindle 31 is provided with a bevelled gear 38 which is disposed in mesh with a bevelled gear 4| mounted on a vertical shaft 42 journaled in a bearing bracket 43 beneath and carried by the plate 33. The vertical shaft 42 is provided with a bevelled gear 44 in mesh with a bevelled gear 45 disposed at one end of a horizontal shaft 48 journaled in a bearing 41 secured to the bearing bracket 43. A pinion 48 secured to the shaft 48 is disposed in mesh with the spur gear 48 mounted on a shaft 8|.

Shaft 5| is provided with a worm wheel 52 in mesh with a worm 53 on the shaft of a motor 84. Motion is thus translated to the shaft 5| through the reduction gearing to rotate the mitre gears 44 and 45 thereby rotating the shaft 42 for the transmission of motion to the bevelled gear, 38 for the rotation of the rotatable shaft or push rod 31 carrying the spinning tool 35. The shaft 31 is reciprocal longitudinally in the bearings 38 and 38 and is provided with a driving pin 58 disposed in a slot 56 in hub 51 of the bevelled gear 38 so that the bevelled gear 38 will drive the rod 31 and at the same time the rod may be moved endwise relative to the said bevelled gear.

A bushing 58 is provided between the bearing 38- and the hub 51 of the bevelled gear to hold the said gear in position against a loose collar 88 about the bearing 38 while the bevelled gear 4| is secured to shaft 42 by suitable pin 8|.

For the purpose of imparting an endwise movemeht to the shaft 31, end 62 thereof is of reduced diameter provided with a block 83 having flattened sides 84 against which carriers 85 having For this,

pins 88 are disposed. The pins 88 extend through apertures in the arms of a bifrucated member 81 at one end of a lever arm 88. Block 63 is disposed between race pieces 88 and 1| for ball bearings 12. The race piece 1| is provided with a 5 threaded aperture and held in place by a threaded end 13, rod 31, lock nut 14 being provided to hold the race pieces, and ball bearings are held as a unit against a shoulder 13 on shaft 31. The

' lever 88 is pivoted at 18 and an adjustable stop pin 19 18 is provided to engage a stop 11 to limit the movement of the arm 88 and consequently the movement of the spinning tool 35 in the direction toward the; material to be deformed. A spring 88' is provided to exert a pull on the arm 68 to 15 normally urge the shaft 31 outwardly in position to be actuated.

The lower end 18 of the lever 88 is connected by a spring 18 with an arm 8| extending from a slide collar 82 movable between an anti-friction g rotatable stop 83 at the lower end of the vertical shaft 42 and an annular flange 84 on the said shaft. The slide collar 82 carries arms similar to arm 8| for actuating the remaining spinning tools. Means for actuating the collar 8| may 25 comprises. link 85 having one end pivotally connected at 86 to the slide collar 82.

The other end of the link is provided with a guide piece 81 through which a second link 88 extends. The upper end of the link 88 is con- 30 nected by a spring 88 to the link 85 at a point intermediate the guide piece 81 and the pivotal connection 88. A stop member 81 is provided to engage the guide piece 81 when the link 88 is moved downwardly in opposition to the spring 35 89. The lower end of the link 88 is pivotally connected at 8| to a foot treadle or lever 82 movable about the pintle hinge 83 which connects the treadle 82 with a stationary portion 84 of the machine. The foregoing description sets forth 0 the various operating elements for actuating the spinning tools.

For the purpose of holding the several component parts of the base In position, a clamping mechanism I88 is provided. As clearly shown 5 in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 this mechanism includes a strap I8I having one end I82 secured to a post I83 and the other end I84 secured to a pin I85 on one end of a link I88. The opposite end of the link is pivotally connected to an end I81 of a lever I88 50 pivoted at I88. The strap I8! is formed of two pieces pivotally connected by a pin III. The strap |8I is in the form of an open ring and between its ends I82 and I84 isa stationary curved segment 2 having an aperture II3 for the en- 55 trance of a spinning tool.

The segment 2 is equal to a portion of the circumference around the outside of a base and movable segments 4 and H5 are provided to complete the circle to provide gripping means 00 which will completely surround the base. The segment I I4 is provided with an aperture I I6 and the segment 5 is provided with apertures I" which apertures are for the purpose of providing access for the spinning tool 35 to the base for a spinning operation.

The segments 4 and H5 are provided with guide pins ||8slidable in guide bearings H8 and springs I2| and I22 normally pull the segments outwardly and hold them in contact with the To strap I8I. Substantially central with respect to the segments is provided a socket or recess I23 in which a spiral spring I24 is disposed to tensionally engage the bottom of a base and when the threaded shell I8 is disposed therein the bulb g 2,019,092 neck I3 with the collar II is positioned in the shell I II and, as shown in Fig. 4, the apertures I! are aligned with the apertures in the segments.

Each depression in the collar is thus bridged by a portion of the shell I8 and the tools are substantially in alignment for movementto perform a spinning operation to deform the bridging portions of the shell or depress them to bring them into intimate contact with the surfaces of the depressions in the collar.

In assembling a device of the present character it is not always possible to have extreme accuracy with respect to the assembled parts and a positive action on the part of a spinning tool might result in the misapplication of force to the end that the bulb neck might be cracked. For the purpose of making the spinning tool flexible and for preventing any irregularities from resulting in a break of the bulb neck, the tool 35 is mounted on a universal joint I25 comprising a spherical portion I26 disposed in a socket I21 and having pins I28 extending through aperture I29 through the walls of the socket.

Suitable space I3I between the shank of the tool and the wall of the socket allows for sufficient lateral movement of the tool which, by reason of its universal attachment to the shaft 81, adjusts itself to perform the spinning operation without imparting detrimental stresses to the bulb neck.

For the purpose of operating the strap to clamp the segments about a positioned base to hold it in position the lever I88 is provided with a cable I32 for moving the lever about its pivot I 88 to draw the strap IIlI tightly about the segments and thus securely grip a base. A spring I33 attached to the lever I88 normally holds the same in position to maintain the strap open. The movement of the lever I88 is limited between adjustable stops I34 and I35. The cable I32 is led over a guide pulley I38 and is connected to one end of a spring IN, the opposite end of which is connected to the foot treadle 82.

It will be evident that the cable H32 for operating the clamp strap and the link 88 for causing an operation of the spinning tools are both attached to the foot treadle. The link 88, however, is given a relatively small movement by reason of its position with respect to the pivot point 93, whereas the cable being of greater distance from the pivot point has a suflicient movement to operate the strap and clamp the base in position prior to the actuation of the spinning tools. Furthermore, the operation of the spinning tools is delayed since the link 88 first slides in the guide piece 81 until a stop 8'?! engages the guide piece thus transmitting motion to the link 85. By reason of the present construction the operation of gripping a base and the spinning operation are performed sequentially.

In operation the shell I8 and the collar Ii are disposed in position on a bulb neck. A base thus assembled is disposed in the socket I2I in position to be clamped. The apertures I! in the .shell of the base are aligned with the apertures provided in the segments of the clamping device. The foot treadle is then depressed and a pull upon the cable I32 operates the lever I08 to draw the clamping ring I8I tightly about the segments, thus firmly gripping the base and holding it for a spinning operation.

A continued movement of the foot treadle causes the stop 8! on the link 88 to engage with the guide piece 81 and the link 85 is pulled downwardly thus actuating the slide collar 82.

A movement of the slide collar 82 causes the arms 8I to transmit motion, through springs 19 to the lever arms 68 which, when rocked, cause the shafts 21 to move radially with respect to the positioned base. The shafts, which are ro- 5 tated by reason of the geared connection with the motor 54, operate the spinning tools 35 which depress or spin portions-of the shell IIi into intimate connections between the spinning tools 35 and the shafts 31 permit a certain amount of adiustment of the spinning tools to compensate for any irregularity in the position of the depressions I5 in the shell.

It will be noted that the operations of gripping the base and actuating the spinning tools is performed substantially sequentially by the common means in the form of the foot treadle 92. With this construction an operator may readily position a bulb and assemble the base which is gripped by the initial movement of the foot 20 treadle and, by continuing such movement, the operation of securing the base to the bulb, by the spinning operation is completed.

The present invention makes it possible to conveniently and effectively secure a base to a bulb, 25 and, whereas bases of the present character may be mechanically secured to a bulb by hand, the present construction provides for a more positive union between the parts and makes such operations more rapid and thereby reduces the cost of production, in line with the production costs of other lamp manufacturing operations.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described compris- 40 ing means for holding a metallic shell with the neck portion of a bulb disposed therein, said neck portion having cavities, a plurality of metal spinning tools for pressing portions of said shell into said cavities, means for moving said tools to perform spinning operations and self-centering means for said tools.

2. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding a metallic shell with the neck portion of a bulb disposed therein, said neck portion having cavities, a plurality of metal spinning tools for pressing portions of said shell into said cavities, push rods for said tools, means for adjustably attaching said tools to said rods, means for rotating said rods and means for moving said rods to bring said tools into operative relation with portions of said shell opposite to the cavities in said bulb neck.

3. A machine of the class described comprising gripper means for holding a metallic base 60 with a bulb neck disposed therein, said bulb neck having a recess formed therein, a rotatable pus rod in substantial alignment with said recess, a metal spinning tool at one end of said rod and rotatable therewith and means for moving said rod to cause said tool to press a portion of said shell into said recess.

4. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding a metallic base with a bulb neck disposed therein, said bulb neck having a plurality of depressions formed therein,

a plurality of rotatable push rods in substantial alignment with said cavities, a metal spinning tool disposed at thelend of each of said rods and ll rods-simultaneously to cause said tools to press portions of said shell into said cavities.

6. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding a metallic base with a bulb neck disposed therein, said bulb neck having recesses formed therein, rotatable push rods in substantial alignment with saidrecesses, a metal spinning tool at the end of each of said rods and resilient means for moving said rods to bring said tools into operative relation with 10 portions of said base opposite to said recesses. 1 PETER MEYER. 

